Three Thoughts

There are thoughts I can't get past today.  Maybe if I share 

them I can let them go.

#1.  The UNIVERSE really does seem to be in charge.

That's good!  Because as I put away the Christmas
decorations and start a new diet, I think about how the
holidays would have still been just as special if we had
not done so much.I couldn't believe it when I walked 
out in the yard this morning and saw the buttercups
already up.  Spring is on it's way. God is in charge. 

#2.  Quote I found...."The more busy you are, the more
shallow you are." .....of course, by Unknown

DH brought that to my attention yesterday.  I had spent
weeks cleaning the house but almost no time hiking with 
my grown sons.  My dad was the same way.  He would 
work late in the evening in the garage working on some
mechanical this or that. He didn't spend much time 
everyday with his kids. It's just a shame because you
turn around and you realize you

don't know your own family.

#3.  I'm OK!  :-)

Yes, that's a funny thing to wake up and realize.  I'm not 
crazy! For years I had this secret.  I like empty rooms. 
For years I would give away or throw away things. 
I have to do it in secret because DH brings
everything back!  

I was wondering if I needed to see a professional

about the my secret.  But a friend gave me a 

compliment the other day that explains it all.

I am a minimalist! :-)

Great! I'm not only ok, I'm something special.

I am a minimalist!

Thank you for listening!  I'm off to purge the den!

Lottie  :)

Enjoy the Quiet for a Minute

There is so much to do!  The 25th is quickly approaching.
Time to stay still and enjoy the minute.

 

 

The gathering room is clean and Christmas meals are ready!
Soon the quiet will be gone and the wonderful loud chatter of
family will begin.  The day is so warm and the sun shining so
bright that I left the back door open.  What a grand December!

 

In my quiet moments, my mind wanders outside to the swing DH
put up for me. I think I'll go out and enjoy the sunny warm weather
right now.  Last year at this time it was cold and the ground was
covered  with snow.  Treasure today I always say.  I can even see
the Christmas tree from outside the window.

   MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Love,

Lottie and DH

Winter Solstice Window

Welcome!  I want to invite you to my favorite window to the world.
It's where I watch the sunset every winter evening.  And on this
winter solstice evening, this is my favorite spot in our home.

 

I love seeing my sweet neighbor's creamy yellow painted home

It always makes me smile!

I  have a hanging basket of violet pansies in the window as
well as a pot of pansies on the picnic table on the deck.  The
pansies in the big black clay pot by the deck chairs always cheer
me up in winter.  I love the view out my kitchen window!

 

This kitchen window means a lot to me.  I really do appreciate it.

For many years before I moved  to my blue cottage, I lived 

in my "little" green cottage.  Our kitchen window  looked out

across the driveway and a wall of the brick house next door.  

So I never saw the sun rise or set.  I just saw the red bricks and

white mortar on the brick wall.  Just thinking of that brick wall

makes me appreciate our window now more.

Thank you for visiting today!    Happy Winter Solstice!

And Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Love,

Lottie

A Little Bit of Christmas

Times have been busy at My Blue Cottage!  But I found a little time
to put up a few decorations on Saturday.  Would you like a little
tour?  I would love to show you around!  I finished the tree on
Saturday.  It is a just right tree for my family.  Not too fancy.

My mantle decorations are simple, too.  Candlesticks, baskets, and
this and that.

 

I love wreaths.  I didn't take pictures of all of them.  Here are just

a few.

 

Every year we have to have something tacky!  This year we hung

snowflakes off the roof next to the deck and a blinking star! LOL!

Of course, every year we have deer in the front yard.

 

Thank you for visiting with us today!  I used  to decorate "bigger",

and I don't know what happened.  I guess I feel very happy with 

what I have now.  No need to go "bigger".

I do love going on house tours, especially at Christmas.

Thank you for sharing your homes on your blogs!

Blessings,

Lottie

Take the Road Less Traveled

We have lived here thirty-three years and always turned right on this
country road.  Today DH and I were wanderers.  When we came
to the crossroads, we turned left and took the road less traveled
by (us). Two miles later, we were crossing a new bridge! Beside it
was the old bridge that has been converted for fishing.

DH thought the rusty old bridge was beautiful!

Wow!  When I looked at it through his eyes, it was beautiful!
"Look for beauty and you will find it!" ....Sara Teasdale

What a beautiful day we had together. "I took the road less
traveled by and that has made all the difference."  ...Frost

Next time, turn left instead of right and see what you will find!
Love,
Lottie

Jack's Trees

It is difficult to realize how great a part of all that is cheerful and delightful in the recollections of our own life is associated with trees.  ~Wilson Flagg

This is what I see everyday when I walk to my mailbox.

I think they are a particular type of maple, but I just 

call them Jack's trees.  Jack was my neighbor who set

these trees out when he moved across the street.  He was

in his 70's. 

 At the time I thought it was a silly thing to do.  After all,

he had plenty of oak trees in his yard already.  Why clutter

up the yard with more trees?  But according to Jack, he

loved this particular tree because it was so pretty in the fall.

He was right.

 Jack is in heaven now.  I'm sure of it!  He left more than 

beautiful trees in the fall.  He left smiles on a lot of people's

faces! :-)  If you were in your driveway and he walked out his

door, he would holler "Hello" such that everyone for miles

heard him.  He was just that way!  I miss Jack.  

 Jack's family misses him, too.  He had lots of grandchildren.

This little tree was planted a few years ago across from my house.  I can almost hear a big "Hello" when I see it!

Wouldn't it be nice to be remembered by other people by our

big "Hello" and the beautiful red maple trees we planted?  

Have a wonderful Halloween!

Love always,

Lottie

Bewitching Wind

So much to do!  My list is long with things I must do today, so  I go
for a walk to clear my thinking.  The sky is turning gray and the
cold wind is starting to blow!  Then something flapping in the wind
catches my eye!  It's three witches in my neighbor's yard! LOL!

Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame!

William Butler Yeats

Love,

Lottie

Staying Focused

I often accuse the menfolk in my family of being unfocused when
they set out to accomplish a task.  I can pretty well start and finish.
Today I had a beautiful afternoon at hand so I thought,  why not get
my desk organized?
BEFORE

I don't know why there is an Easter basket on my desk.  And if I
keep my vitamins and pills right in front, I'll be sure to take them
all.  Also, I'll know when I need to refill them.  Wow, I need to
organize and now!  So I thought maybe I would be more inspired
if I went to town and bought some...organizers!

So I put on my shoes and headed for town.  First, I went to Staples
but I didn't see anything I liked.  Then Target, but still nothing.

Then I went to Lowe's and started looking for desk organizers.
I always park at the garden side and walk through to inside.

I was a little distracted by the garden section, but I made my way
towards the middle of the store.

 

Then I don't know what happened.  I stopped to talk to an old friend
and the next thing I knew, I was in the Christmas section.

Time to go home.  I bought some pansies on the way out and
started for home.  I was way too tired to keep looking for desk
organizers, besides the one I have work when I use them.  So
this is what my desk looks like at the end of the afternoon.
AFTER

 

Oh well, I enjoyed the afternoon!  Hope you enjoyed yours, too!

Love,

Lottie

As Spooky as it Gets!

I got rid of my scary Halloween decorations long ago, but every
October I take out my Ghostbuster's decoration.  I just love it!
It makes me smile whenever I walk by.  Start the video and sing along!


"A day without laughter is a day wasted."  Charlie Chaplin

Love,

Lottie
 

Dinner and a Movie

Years ago I was in the graduate program for Library Science at USC.
One of the courses was about Reference Resources.  It was known
to be the hardest class in the program ...and...the best class in the
program.  I looked forward to taking it and dreaded it at the same
time.  Finally, I was in the class and at the first meeting, our
professor gave us all the best advice! "Work hard and go out for
dinner and a movie every Friday night!" That doesn't seem like
any kind of advice at all, but believe me, it was golden.

Last week was a "work hard" week, and Friday on the way home
I knew I was ready to go out to dinner and a movie!  DH had
already cooked dinner so we ate together and then went out for
an ice cream cone and a movie.  Since I didn't give DH notice
that I needed a movie night, I let him pick which movie we saw!

We saw "Moneyball" with Brad Pitt.  What a great movie!  I 
highly recommend it.  It was all about choices.  I wouldn't
dare give the ending away because it totally surprised me!
I read in one of the reviews that the movie had intelligence.
It did.  In fact, because it is about a man's world, I didn't
understand parts.  DH explained it to me later.  And because
it is about a man's world, I recognized right away why things
worked the way they did.  It was truly a great movie!

Was Brad Pitt great in this movie?  Yes.  Was Robert Redford
great in this movie? YES.  Because that is who I saw over
and over in the Brad Pitt performance. 

And when David Justice came to the team, I hollered in the
theater " I know who that is!".  DH just shushed me.

If you have a chance, don't miss "Moneyball".  But if you
can swing it next weekend, go out on Friday for dinner and a
movie....especially if it is a "work hard" week!

Have a great weekend and please share your favorite movies.
Love,
Lottie

Letting Go

The hardest thing I've ever had to do was let go of my children.
But I had to.  I had to let them experience the world.  I've always
enjoyed my independence and I want that for them, too.
But it is so hard to let go.......

But so worth it....  Oh, what beautiful pictures are sent home!

Wow! How wonderful to share our children's lives!  Makes it
easier to let go.....

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!
Love,
Lottie

Cucumber Miracle

I was watering the garden today and I looked under the 
leaves of the cucumber vines.  I couldn't believe what I saw!

Is that a baby cucumber?

:-) 

No...it's a miracle!

Miracles happen everyday, change your perception of

what a miracle is and you'll see them all around you.

                                                                          ...Jon Bon Jovi

Hope your day has been full of miracles!
Love,
Lottie

Pothos - Still Gardening

It's 100 degrees in South Carolina and I'm still gardening!
This time I'm rooting pothos.  I love pothos because they can
stand low light or fluorescent lights for part of the  year and
I work in a large library with no windows.

About three weeks ago I cut off some stems and stuck them
in a jar of water.  Just kept filling up the jar...that's all.

This jar of pothos is about a week and a half in the water.

I put them both in new pots today.

It is still too hot to be doing this.

They both turned out well.  

I think I'll stop gardening for  awhile until it cools off.   People

are more important than plants.  I think I'll call someone who

needs cheering up tomorrow.  These plants can wait!

Love,

Lottie

PS: Go to The Ivy Nest for some wonderful pictures of FROST!

Rescue Petunias

Sometimes in July petunias look spent.  That was the case with a
neighbor's hanging basket of petunias.  All the blooms were gone,
and the neighbor set the basket by his garbage can on the road.  I
noticed there was a little green still left on it and I couldn't stop
thinking about the poor plant.  So, we asked the neighbor if we
could try to rescue the hanging basket and he gave us the basket.
DH carefully trimmed it back and nurtured it with Miracle Grow
and LOTS of water.  That was two weeks ago. 

 

Look how beautiful it is now!

It's funny how attached you can get to rescue plants!